What a full and joyous weekend we had celebrating the death and resurrection of Jesus! Good Friday was a beautiful time of remembrance and reflection with a moving reading from John 19, music that filled the room and cut to the heart, and the Lord’s table taken together. We experienced the tension of grief mixed with joy, the reality that a seed must go into the ground and die in order to bear fruit. We are made new through the costly death of Jesus.
On Saturday morning almost 200 kids participated in our community egg hunt. We met plenty of new friends from the community. Everyone enjoyed the candy, the bouncy house, coffee, cocoa, and the contagious joy of the children. Even though it was chilly out, the rain and sleet held off; and we had sun for this outdoor event! It really was tons of fun and felt all the more so because of the togetherness of the church family working together to make it happen for the kids and the community.
Resurrection Sunday brought a feeling of celebration and unity. The room was packed with people worshipping together in a way that felt free and exciting as pandemic restrictions have eased, and large gatherings are possible again. The theme of robust hope felt palpable in the sea of joyful faces. What a joy it was to baptize twelve people and to sing and celebrate together!
Christ is risen! It’s my prayer that we remember to walk, year-round, in the knowledge that we are united with Christ in his life, his death, and his resurrection.